Questions_and_Answers_-_DRAFT_ACTS_(Final).pdf

Questions and Answers to Sources Sought

Where applicable, the PWS will be updated to reflect the answers provided below.

Questions for the Government on Draft PWS FA4890-15-R-0001 Dated 20 August

1. Question: Reference 14-16 - Paragraphs 2.1.3.3 - 3.1.3.5

a. Can the Government quantify the frequency and depth of engineering level support, software development, maintenance and system integration services required?

ANSWER: It’s unclear from the question above which paragraph the question is referring. Para 2.1.3.3 doesn’t exist. Para 3.1.3.5 requires no engineering support. Based on contextual information, we assume this question is regarding paragraph 3.1.3.4.2 Engineering-level software support for ITAS. It’s anticipated that effective management of the software product will require routine engineering-level services to include software design, coding, and test to keep the debriefing software current with evolving/changing data sources and output requirements. For planning purposes, anticipate that two minor revisions of the software will be published per year and two major revisions of the software will be published over the course of the contract. Software development, maintenance, and integration activities will need to be robust to support this cycle.

2. Question: Page 14 - Para 3.1.3.4.1

a. Will the documentation for the software products listed in this section be available to bidders?

ANSWER: ICADS software is a commercial product developed by Cubic.

Bidders can request access to the Help file and any ICADS reference material in the P5CTS Technical Orders. ITAS and PCDS are government-owned software products. Bidders can request access to system documentation and training materials on each product.

3. Question: Page27 - Para 3.1.12.13

a. Is it correct to assume that TESA is the acronym for

Technical Expert Status Accreditation?

ANSWER: Yes, Technical Expert Status Accreditation (TESA). In order to qualify, Contractor personnel must meet education/experience requirements; the details of which will provided upon contract award. For planning purposes, consider education as a college degree (bachelor/associate) and experience as a number of years working in a highly technical or scientific nature that correlates to the requirements defined in the PWS.

4. Question: Page27 - Para 3.1.12.13

a. Contractor employees in Germany that obtain TESA status and those in Italy that obtain Technical Representative (TR) status are exempted from paying income and social taxes in those countries. Can we assume that contractor employees will be given a similar exemption from taxation in the UK under this contract or will they be required to pay UK social and income taxes? If so, will the Government reimburse the contractor for the taxes?

ANSWER: No, Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) does not extend to contractor personnel, so contractors are required to pay UK taxes.

However, logistical support (commissary privileges, mail services, BX, etc.) is currently authorized. The Government intends to comply with FAR Clause 52.229-6 and 26 U.S.C. 5000C. Any taxes that do not fall under this statute will be reviewed by the Government and considered for reimbursement. This question will be researched further and additional information will be provided during the actual solicitation period.

b. Given that compliance with this paragraph is not trivial and an ongoing requisite, should the necessity for compliance not be more specific and detailed? The effort involved in obtaining

TESA/TR, CAC, residence permits, visas, working with local legal services, accountants and developing and providing other documentation required to work on the OCONUS sites is substantial and ongoing. In light of this, the paragraph seems to significantly understate the level of effort required to be compliant with the PWS requirements.

ANSWER: DoD Contractor Personnel Office (DOCPER) specifically requests such information not to be included in the PWS but upon contract award. The Government understands the burden of this requirement and will help as much as possible by providing guidance on how to coordinate required documentation.

5. Question: Page 32 - Paragraphs 3.1.14 and 3.1.15.1

a. Can the Government provide more detail on the level of support required for these systems?

ANSWER: For Interface Systems, the level of support is organizational level O&M activities. This includes daily initialization, configuration, operation, and shut down of the system.

Configuration/operation includes those actions necessary to ensure the systems are passing required threat or radar data to the live monitor system. All of these systems will have a separate engineering-level support desk that site contractors can contact to help with troubleshooting or resolving problems beyond the typical organizational level. For Datalink Support, similar organizational-level O&M is expected. Configuration/operation of these systems includes configuration the terminals to pass link data and injection of virtual link entities for training purposes. The government does not expect to have a separate engineering-level support desk for these systems.

6. Suggestion: Page 33 - Para 3.1.17.3 – Suggest that the Government specifically reference ITAR compliance and expand upon the contractor’s requiring to comply in this paragraph.

ANSWER: ITAR compliance is already applicable to the entire dedicated debriefing function (reference para 3.1.3.2) which includes debriefing activities during deployments. Government will evaluate whether additional ITAR references are required.

7. Question: Reference Para 3.1.18.1.4

a. Will the Government provide USG licensing and insurance for

OCO NUS vehicles? If not, will the Government reimburse the contractor for any costs associated with acquiring, registering and insuring a vehicle in a foreign country?

ANSWER: The contractor will be responsible for costs associated with their vehicle in a foreign country. The contractor should include reasonable costs associated with vehicles in their proposal for consideration. This question will be researched further and additional information will be provided during the actual solicitation period.

8. Question: Reference Page 24 - Para 3.1.12.1.1

a. The requirement for a single Program Manager to directly manage 13 or more site managers in different time zones as much as 9 hours apart seems to severely stretch management's span of control. Given the competitive nature of this contract, is it not in the Government's best interest to be more specific in the management requirements?

ANSWER: The program management function accounts for the largest portion of ‘contractor shall’ statements in the PWS and is the most directive portion of the PWS. Bidders are encouraged to propose innovative approaches to meet the scope and span of control of these program management requirements.

9. Question: Reference Page 35 - Para 3.1.20.6 and 3.1.20.7

a. Will the Government do all of the preparation on and submission for the LOls or will the contractor be required to prepare re the LOI request for the Governm ent to submit an d approve?

ANSWER: No, the Contractor will be responsible to prepare and submit the

LOI for approval. The government will provide an LOI format template upon request.

b. Will the contractor be required to provide detailed estimates of travel costs to the Government prior issue of the LOl?

ANSWER: Yes, the Contractor shall provide sufficient data to support their estimate. After completion of travel, the Contractor will notify the Government of the actual expense.

10. Para 3.1.3.3.2: Requirement to perform RTO duties, is that in accordance with AFI 13- 212?

ANSWER: Yes, RTO duties are IAW AFI 13-212 which specifies knowledge of AFI 11-202 Vol 3, AFI 11-214, Aircraft-specific 11-2MDS series, and

ACTS/airspace capabilities/limitations. The RTO is the person responsible for monitoring ACTS, passing kill removal, providing debriefs and establishing communications with aircraft entering the training space. The RTO aids in flight safety, facilitates training, and assists flight leads in reconstructing missions.

11. Para 3.1.3.4.1: Requires us to maintain ICADS, ITAS and PCDS; did not see where the PCDSs are located.

ANSWER: The contractor shall provide support for all three debriefing products at all contract locations. ICADS is a commercial debriefing product available at every location. PCDS and ITAS are government-owned software products and can be installed as-needed at any location to support debriefing needs. For planning purposes, the contractor can expect that ICADS will be used at every location for the live monitoring function. Some combination of

ICADS, ITAS, and PCDS will be used for the post-mission function. Although the contractor may have to support any product at any location, it’s anticipated that PCDS will be used more often at F-16 locations, ITAS will be used more often at bomber locations, and ICADS will be used predominately at all other locations.

12. Appendix 8B: Missing T-38n support

ANSWER: Correct, at Langley, the contractor will also support download of

GPS mission files from the T-38 and consolidated debrief using that data.

13. Appendix 8B: Shouldn’t VACAPES be added as an off-sight location for radar feeds?

ANSWER: Yes, there is equipment at VACAPES that is part of the contract but no contractor responsibility for facilities or enclosures. This is different from Chincoteague and Bogue field where the contractor is responsible for the equipment and the enclosure where the equipment is installed. This will be evident in the PWS when the Technical Exhibit is updated with the equipment inventory/location.

14. Appendix 8C: Are not all 4 (four) squadrons each with 24 PMAI?

ANSWER: The two Ops squadrons are both 24 PMAI, The two FTU squadrons are an 18 PTAI and 21 PTAI

PMAI – Primary Mission Aerospace vehicle Inventory

PTAI – Primary Training Aerospace vehicle Inventory

15. Appendix 8F: Are not 3 (three) squadrons each with 18PMAI?

ANSWER: All three squadrons are 24 PMAI.

16. Appendix 8J: Are not 2 (two) F-22 squadrons at Tyndall?

ANSWER: Yes, One Ops squadron with 21 PMAI and One Training squadron with 28 PTAI.

17. Para 3.1.7.5: Please clarify this paragraph: “The security clearance requirements for SAP access is a final SECRET clearance based on a

NACLC investigation within the last ten

(5) years.” Is it 5 or 10 years?

ANSWER: Requirement is for an investigation within the last five (5) years.